"I Am The Bread Of Life: Offensive Words”

In Jesus Holy Name August 11, 2024

Text: John 6:38,40 Pentecost XII

“I AM the bread of Life: Offensive Words”

Last Sunday our Gospel reading was from John chapter 6. Today our Gospel reading is from John Chapter 6. I said to myself “How can I preach on the same theme, “Jesus is the Bread of Life” three weeks in a row? I can’t do it. There is nothing new that I can say.”

Then I realized: “That’s right. There is nothing new…The entire chapter of John chapter 6 is about Jesus who meets our most basic spiritual needs.1) harmony and peace with our Creator 2) security regarding our eternal address beyond our limited time on earth.

Jesus said: “I am the bread that has come down from heaven, not to do my will but to do the will of my Father who sent me. The will of my Father is that everyone who believes in the Son will have eternal life.” John 6:35,40

“The birth of Jesus in Bethlehem is a reminder that the Son of God did not stay in the safe immunity of His heaven, remote from human sin and tragedy. He actually entered our world. He emptied himself of His glory and humbled Himself to serve.” (John Stott The Contemporary Christian” p. 357) (Phil. 2:6-9)

Jesus told those who had experienced the miracle of bread and fish on the shores of Galilee, that He was on a Divine mission to save humanity. He had come to save us from the wrath of God that our sins had brought about; to rescue us from the everlasting damnation our disobedience had incurred; to release us from the eternal death we deserved. He was doing everything His Father had asked Him to do.

He was living His life perfectly; He was resisting sin perfectly; He would eventually defeat death by raising from death. His job was to do all the Father had asked; those who were present at the miracle of bread and fish on the shores of Galilee were asked to believe in Him as Savior. Jesus said it clearly, "this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life," If you do that, Jesus added, 'I will raise you up on the last day.'

The 1st five books of the Old Testament was considered the Manna from heaven, the bread of life. When Jesus said, “I am the true Manna from Heaven” He meant: “I am the God of the burning bush standing in your presence.

Jesus said to the Pharisees: “you search the scriptures to find eternal life, they point to me.” I am the manna that has come down from heaven. “I am the bread of life… he who believes in me has eternal life. His resurrection from death and the grave after His crucifixion secures our eternal address by faith in Him.

C.S. Lewis in his book “Mere Christianity” makes the following statement about Jesus: “A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would be a lunatic” or a liar. “You must make your choice. Either he was and is the Son of God, or else a madman. You can shut him up for a fool or you can fall at his feet and call Him Lord and God.”

In the first century many of the Jews came to the conclusion that Jesus was a liar. They accuse him of lying when he taught in the synagogue. “ No,” they said, “you do not have the right to forgive sins”…. Jesus responded by saying…. So you think! But what is easier to say to this paralyzed man, or this man with a withered hand…. “Your sins are forgiven or “stretch forth your hand”, “rise and walk”. “So that you may know that I have authority on earth to forgive sins….” ‘get up, take your mat and go home.’ “stretch forth you hand and be healed.” Both were visual realities of the authority of His words and power.

Take a look at the claims Jesus makes in these short ten verses:

1. I have come down from heaven

2. People must come to me in order to get to the Father (in heaven)

3. I will cause you to rise from the grave

4. I am the object of the prophet’s teachings

5. I am from God

6. I have seen the Father

7. He who believes in me has eternal life

8. I am the bread of life, this bread is greater than the manna of Moses

9. You will live forever with my bread

10. This bread is my flesh given for the life of the world.